HONESDALE -- William Henry Motz, 31, of Lake Ariel, Wayne County PA, has been charged with drug delivery resulting in death (a first-degree felony), involuntary manslaughter (a first degree misdemeanor), possession with intent to deliver (an ungraded felony), and criminal use of a communication facility {a third degree felony) for the overdose death of Edward Lawrence Keane, 30, of Hawley.
Motz was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Bonnie Carney who set bail at $50,000. He is currently serving a 36-72 month state sentence for his prior guilty plea to an unrelated possession with intent to deliver conviction stemming from incidents in Pike County, PA.
According to the complaint, Keane was found dead in the basement living area of his residence on the morning of September 29, 2020. Pennsylvania State Police initially found in the corner of the room a rolled up $1 bill and tin foil that had appeared to be burned. Upon initially reviewing the victim's cell phone, the victim had several text messages exchanged with William Motz. The messages suggested there was an exchange of drugs during the days leading up to the victim's death. A search of Facebook Messenger also discovered that the victim and Billy Motz corresponded via messenger and Facebook calling on September 29, 2020. They agreed to meet on Main Street, Hawley Borough, on the night of September 29, 2020.
Also discovered in the residence was drug paraphernalia and heroin in a small black pouch. The pouch contained 6 suspected heroin packets stamped "Tropicana", 6 suspected heroin packets stamped "Paid in full", 3 empty heroin packets stamped " Paid in full", 2 empty heroin packets stamped "Tropicana", 14 empty heroin packets without stamps and 4 rubber bands.
On March 8, 2021, the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Forensic Services laboratory report details the results analyzed from the suspected heroin seized from the victim’s residence. The six (6) white glassine bags stamped “Tropicana” contained heroin and fentanyl. The five (5) glassine bags stamped, “Paid in Full”, contained heroin and fentanyl.
In another investigation, on February 10, 2021, the Defendant was taken into custody and found to be in possession of a large amount of heroin. In an interview, the Defendant related that he knew the victim, that he's pretty sure the victim had overdosed, and that he saw the victim on Main Street, Hawley, right before he died.
On May 3, 2021, the victim's autopsy and toxicology report from Northern Tier Research showed at the time of the victim's death that the victim had a total of 19ng/mL Fentanyl, 3 ng/mL of Nor fentanyl, and 12.6 ng/mL Morphine present within his system. The manner of the victim’s death was ruled accidental and cause was listed as pharmacologic effects of fentanyl.
Motz is scheduled to appear in central court on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.